Rabban Bar Sauma

Rabban Bar Sauma, also known as Rabban Ṣawma or Rabban Çauma,^[1] (Chinese:拉賓掃務瑪, around 1230-1294, fl. 1280 – 1288), was a diplomat from China, sent by the Mongol Empire to communicate with Western rulers such as Kings Philip IV of France and Edward I of England. Bar Sauma's written account of his journeys is of unique interest, as it gives a picture of medieval Europe at the close of the Crusading period, painted by a keenly intelligent, broadminded and statesmanlike observer. His travels occurred prior to the return of Marco Polo to Europe, and give a reverse viewpoint of the East looking to the West.

Early life

Bar Sauma was born c. 1230 in Beijing. According to Gregory Barhebraeus he was of Uyghur origin. Chinese accounts describe his heritage as "Wanggu" (Ongud), a tribe of Turkic origin classified as part of the Mongol Caste of the Yuan Dynasty. He was follower of the Nestorian faith (see: Nestorianism in China).

Pilgrimage to Jerusalem

Rabban Bar Sauma departed from China at a young age, accompanied by his friend and colleague Rabban Marcos, in order to start a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. He travelled by way of the former Tangut country, Khotan, Kashgar, Talas in the Syr Darya valley, Khorasan, Maragha and Mosul, arriving at Ani in Armenia. Warnings of danger on the routes to southern Syria turned him from his purpose.

Rabban Bar Sauma was welcomed in Persia by the Patriarch of the Church of the East Mar Denha I. Mar Denha I had his seat in Baghdad at that time, and requested Rabban Bar Sauma to visit the court of Abaqa in order to obtain confirmation letters for his ordination as Patriarch in 1266.

Mission to Europe

His friend and fellow-pilgrim, Rabban Marcos, was elected to become the Nestorian patriarch Mar Yaballaha III in 1281 when Mar Denha I died. He recommended Bar Sauma to the ruler of the Ilkhanate or Mongol-Persian realm, Arghun Khan, who sent him for an embassy to Europe as part of an effort to develop a Franco-Mongol alliance in the Middle East.

The purpose of this mission was to conclude an alliance with the chief states of Christendom against their mutual Middle Eastern Muslim enemies, specifically the Mamluk sultans, in order to take Jerusalem:

"And Arghon intended to go into the countries of Palestine and Syria and to subjugate them and take possession of them, but he said to himself, "If the Western Kings, who are Christians, will not help me I shall not be able to fulfil my desire."

—"The Monks of Kublai Khan Emperor of China^[2]

Bar Sauma's mission started out in 1287, with Arghun's letters to the Byzantine emperor, the Pope and the Kings of France and England. Bar Sauma received a large retinue of assistants and was loaded with presents for the Western kings, enough for 30 riding animals:

"Then straightway King Arghon wrote for him "Authorities"(pukdane) to the king of the Greeks, and the king of the PEROGAYE (Franks?) that is to say Romans, and Yarlike [i.e. the "Ordinances"of the Mongolian kings], and letters, and gave him gifts for each of the kings [addressed by him]. And to Rabban Sawma he gave two thousand mathkale ( £1,000?) of gold, and thirty good riding animals, and a Paiza (Pass)."

— "The Monks of Kublai Khan Emperor of China^[2]

Among others Rabban Bar Sauma is known to have been accompanied by the Christian (archaon) Sabadinus, Thomas de Anfusis, and an interpreter named Uguetus or Ugeto.^[3]

Constantinople and Italy

In Constantinople, he had an audience with Andronicus II Palaeologus; he gives an enthusiastic description of Hagia Sophia.

Rabban next travelled to Italy. As he arrived by sea, he witnessed and recorded the great eruption of Mount Etna on June 18, 1287. A few days after his arrival, he also witnessed a naval battle in the Bay of Sorrento on St. John's Day, June 24, 1287, during the conflict of the Sicilian Vespers. The battle was between the fleet of Charles II (whom he calls "Irid Shardalo", i.e. "Il re Charles Due"), who had welcomed him in his realm, and James II of Aragon, king of Sicily (whom he calls Irid Arkon, i.e. "Il re de Aragon"), and James II was victorious and killed 12,000 men.

He next travelled to Rome, where he visited St Peter's, and had prolonged negotiations with the cardinals. Unfortunately for his mission, the papacy was then vacant and a definite reply to his proposals for an alliance was postponed.

France

King Philip led Rabban Bar Sauma in a visit of the Sainte Chapelle in Paris.

Bar Sauma then passed on to Paris, where he had an audience with the king of France, Philip the Fair. Philip seemingly responded positively to the request of the embassy:

"King Philip said: "If it be indeed so that the Mongols, though they are not Christians, are going to fight against the Arabs for the capture of Jerusalem, it is meet especially for us that we should fight [with them], and if our Lord willeth, go forth in full strength.""

—"The Monks of Kublai Khan Emperor of China^[2]

Philip also gave him numerous present, and sent one of his noblemen, Gobert de Helleville, to accompany Bar Sauma back to Mongol lands:

"And he said unto us, "I will send with you one of the great Amirs whom I have here with me to give an answer to King Arghon"; and the king gave Rabban Sawma gifts and apparel of great price."

—"The Monks of Kublai Khan Emperor of China^[2]

Gobert de Helleville departed on February 2, 1288, with two clercs Robert de Senlis and Guillaume de Bruyères, as well as arbaletier (crossbowman) Audin de Bourges. They joined Bar Sauma in Rome, and accompanied him to Persia.^[4]

England

In Gascony he met the king of England Edward I, probably in the capital of Bordeaux. Edward responded enthousiastically to the embassy, but ultimately proved unable to join a military alliance due to conflict at home, especially with the Welsh and the Scots:

"King Edward rejoinced greatly, and he was especially glad when Rabban Sauma talked about the matter of Jerusalem. And he said "We the kings of these cities bear upon our bodies the sign of the Cross, and we have no subject of thought except this matter. And my mind is relieved on the subject about which I have been thinking, when I hear that King Arghun thinketh as I think"

—Account of the travels of Rabban Bar Sauma, Chap. VII.^[2]

Rome

On returning to Rome, he was cordially received by the newly elected Pope Nicholas IV, who gave him communion on Palm Sunday, 1288, allowed him to celebrate his own Eucharist in the capital of Latin Christianity, commissioned him to visit the Christians of the East, and entrusted to him the tiara which he presented to Mar Yaballaha.

Return to the Mongol realm

Bar Sauma returned to the Mongol realm in 1288, with letters from Pope Nicholas IV, Edward I of England, and Philip IV the Fair of France.^[5]. These letters would in turn be answered by Arghun in 1289 (and forwarded by the Genoese merchant Buscarello de Ghizolfi, a diplomatic agent for the Il-khans), where Arghun mentions Bar Sauma:^[6]

"Under the power of the eternal sky, the message of the great king, Arghun, to the king of France..., said: I have accepted the word that you forwarded by the messengers under Saymer Sagura (Bar Sauma), saying that if the warriors of Il Khaan invade Egypt you would support them. We would also lend our support by going there at the end of the Tiger year’s winter [1290], worshiping the sky, and settle in Damascus in the early spring [1291].

If you send your warriors as promised and conquer Egypt, worshiping the sky, then I shall give you Jerusalem. If any of our warriors arrive later than arranged, all will be futile and no one will benefit. If you care to please give me your impressions, and I would also be very willing to accept any samples of French opulence that you care to burden your messengers with.

I send this to you by Myckeril and say: All will be known by the power of the sky and the greatness of kings. This letter was scribed on the sixth of the early summer in the year of the Ox at Ho’ndlon."

—France royal archives^[7]

These exchanges were largely fruitless, and Arghun's attempts at alliance with the Europeans were eventually abandoned.^[8] However, Bar Sauma's narrative is still of unique interest as it gives a picture of medieval Europe at the close of the Crusading period, painted by a keenly intelligent, broadminded and statesmanlike observer. His travels occurred prior to the return of Marco Polo to Europe, and give a reverse viewpoint of the East looking to the West.

Notes

References

• J. B. Chabot's translation and edition of the Histoire du Patriarche Mar Jabalaha III. et du moine Rabban Cauma (from the Syriac) in Revue de l'Orient Latin, 1893, pp. 566-610; 1894, pp. 73-143, 235-300
• Odericus Raynaldus, Annales Ecclesiastici (continuation of Baronius), AD 1288, f xxxv-xxxvi; 1289, lxi
• Luke Wadding, Annales Minorum, v.169, 196, 170-173
• C. R. Beazley, Dawn of Modern Geography, ii.15, 352; iii.12, 189-190, 539-541.
• Records of the Wardrobe and Household, 1286-89, ed. Byerly and Byerly (HMSO, 1986), nos. 543, 1082 (for the meeting with Edward I at St Sever).
• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.

Translations

Rabban Bar Sauma's travel narrative has been translated into English twice:

• James A. Montgomery, History of Yaballaha III, (New York: Columbia University Press, 1927)
• E. A. Wallis Budge, The Monks of Kublai Khan, (London: Religious Tract Society, 1928). Online

External links

• The history and Life of Rabban Bar Sauma (translated from the Syriac by Budge, Sir E.A.Wallis).  (online)

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